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As Mr Redman leaves here to day for your village I will try to write to you to let you know we are still living, although the Yankees have been in quiet possession of our village for the past two weeks. A company of them are still here guarding the college buildings & the village generally — all except this company left day before yesterday. Yesterday 11000 passed through on their way to Greensboro to take the cars there for their homes. We all had guards for our houses during the two weeks they were here consequently we were not robbed or our houses ransacked, but all around the village for miles around the country is laid waste & everything taken — every horse, & a few old broken down ones were left in their places. What people are to do for support this year or next no one can see.

And to crown it all the negroes are all turned loose to ramble about & do what they please & that you know is generally nothing at all.

Now added to all this we have been very very anxious about Gaston who was wounded 4 weeks ago yesterday. We hear vague & unsatisfactory accounts from him, the latest was the 20th of April he was then at Farmville & doing well. Capt Jordan assures me that is certainly true. Mitt is & has beenvery anxious to go to see him but the times are so out of joint she can't get off. Tomorrow if nothing prevents Lum will start to look for him.

You my dear Sister can sympathize with me in this doubt & uncertainty. I have fallen off 15 or 20 lbs & have but little sense left me. Mitt poor child grows paler & sadder as day after day passes & no certain tidings from Gaston nor any way is opened for her to go to him. Lum came home two weeks ago — walked about 400 miles, had quite a serious attack of sickness produced the Dr said by prostration. He is just recovering from it.

I had a one armed soldier too to nurse for two weeks, until Lum broke out with eysifelus & we were all afraid he would get it in his wound so he had to leave us. He is a poor man, lives in DeKalb Co Ala, belonged to Wheeler's Cavalry, was shot in the arm near Morrisville. He is a good Christian man & I was glad to have him to attend to, for I could hope my own dear wounded one would find somebody to nurse him.

Ma was quite sick when I got home & is still in bed, she is better though & we hope will be well again soon. Love Battle looks very badly — so does Laura Phillips in fact it seems to me ever body looks ten years older than they did three weeks ago. Anna & Mitt join me in much love to your Mother & the girls. This is a miserable pen. I do not whether you can read it.Mr & Mrs Elliot are still here. She desired me to send her love to your Mother & yourself. Mr R has come & I must say goodbye. God bless you my dear Sister.